Budget ax aims at county sheriff

Amid signs of mounting fiscal woes, Cook County officials are eyeing Sheriff Michael F. Sheahan's office as a prime source for some of the tens of millions of dollars that likely will be needed to balance next year's county budget.

But the sheriff is protecting his turf with political six-shooters blazing.

Honing an ax for possible use on Mr. Sheahan's $378-million budget is a special county operations review team appointed by County Board President John Stroger.

While Mr. Stroger has not yet signed off on its findings, a draft of the panel's report scheduled to be released in the next few days concludes that the county could save more than $35 million by freeing low-risk individuals awaiting trial from Cook County Jail, shifting "boot camp" inmates to state facilities and taking other cost-cutting steps, sources say.

Also readying a report on operations of the sheriff's office are county Commissioner Michael Quigley and the Civic Federation, a Chicago government watchdog group. They're questioning office policies on overtime and salary hikes. They also say Mr. Sheahan may have gone too far in assuming new tasks in recent years.

Mr. Sheahan strongly disputes such findings as unfair to his fiscal record, noting that he has slightly pared his staff despite a rising prisoner count at County Jail.

"This office has gotten better and stronger and more professional," he declares.

Meantime, he makes it clear that his critics ought to prepare to defend themselves.

Complete coverage of this story appears in the July 30 edition of Crain's.